Key to deception

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A scammer and his inside man turned a borrowed key and a bit of nerve into a convincing scam, using an office in Arad to trick a buyer into handing over BD10,100 for a flat they had no right to sell.

The ruse worked until it didn’t.

The Civil Court has now ordered both men to pay BD12,100, including BD2,000 for the distress they caused, according to lawyer Fatima Bumajeed.

It started with a simple request.

Market

The second defendant, a parttime worker at a real estate office, was given the key to a flat by its owner who wanted it put on the market.

Rather than following through properly, he handed the key to the first defendant who quickly claimed ownership.

The victim’s daughter saw the advert and got in touch. A viewing was set up.

The first defendant, armed with the stolen key, took the victim and his son-in-law on a tour of the flat. He named his price at BD25,000. The buyer agreed and left BD 100 as a deposit.

Ownership

But the scheme wasn’t just about faking ownership.

When the victim was ready to pay the first instalment, the fraudster staged a meeting at a real estate office in Arad to add a touch of credibility to his tale.

This is where the second defendant played along. He let the scammer use the office as a front, making sure everything looked above board.

Lawyer

The first defendant even introduced himself as the firm’s lawyer.

Reassured by the setting, the buyer handed over BD10,000.

To seal the deal, the fraudster handed over a sales contract and a receipt stamped with what seemed to be the real estate office’s official seal. But it was all fake.

With the cash in his pocket, the fraudster fabricated another lie and told the buyer he would hand over the keys in two weeks since the flat’s owner was supposedly overseas.

Excuses

That deadline came and went. Excuses followed.

The victim’s daughter, sensing something was off, rang the real estate office and was told they had no knowledge of the sale.

The first defendant, they confirmed, had no ties to the firm. Worse still, the second defendant had knowingly helped him pull it off.

Money

The first defendant signed a note promising to return the money. But the cash had long since been spent and the victim was left empty-handed.

The court found both men responsible and ruled that their scam caused financial harm and distress.

They were ordered to return BD10,100, the sum pocketed, plus BD2,000 in damages.